The House of Representatives has resolved to acquire Toyota Camry 2020 model than Innoson Motors for members as official cars, otherwise called utility vehicles. This agreement was reached at an executive (closed-door) session held on February 5, 2020.

A source in the chamber who choose that his identity should not be disclosed, said that the National Assembly would purchase 400 Toyota Camry 2020. The 2020 model is yet to arrive in Nigeria and expected to be costlier.

A check on the website of Toyota showed that the price of the car, depending on the variants, is between $25,000 (N9,000,000 at N360 to a dollar) and $35,000 (N12,600,000), excluding the cost of shipping, import duty which is 70 per cent of the net cost and other clearing charges and taxes at the port.

At the meeting, the lawmakers were said to have rejected Nigerian brands, insisting on foreign ones, preferably imported and not locally assembled.

The lawmaker said a proposal to patronise Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, a Nigerian brand based in Nnewi, Anambra State, was rejected.

The lawmaker said, “It is Toyota Camry 2020. Manga will supply 300 of the vehicles. The person who supplied the Senate will supply the remaining 100. Someone suggested Innoson. I feel he was being sarcastic. He is from Anambra.”